Method of and mechanism for straightening metal bands



E. H. .HILL` 8 METHOD-0F AND MBGHANISM F08 STRAIGHTENING METAL-BANDS.

(No Model.)

No. 290,281. Patented D68. 18,1888.

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PATENT OFFICE.

EDVIN H. HILL, OSF VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD F AND ME-C-HANISM FOR STAIGHTENING METAL BANDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,231, dated December18, 1883. Application filed May 28, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN I-I. HILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in theMethod of and Mechanism for Straightening Flat Metal Bands,

Vires, and Rods; and I do hereby declare the following to beadescription of my said invention, sufficientlyfull, clear, and exact toenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe, same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which forma part of this specification.

In the manufacture of iiat metal bands,wire, and rods,-the 1n etalbecomes curved andcrooked edgewise in the rolling or ilatteningoperation, and much time, labor, and expense is required in bringing itinto astraight condition suitable for market and'use, and much care hasto be exercised to avoid twisting or warping the band or wi're whilestraightening it laterally.

The object of my present invention is to provide means whereby iiatmetal bands, wires, or metal rods can be straightened in an expeditious,convenient, and economic manneralso, to provide a practical andefficient mechanism for straightening iiat metal bands, wires, and rodsby continuous operation. These objects I attain by mechanism the natureof which is more fully explained in the following description, theparticular subject matter claimed being hereinafter denitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of mechanism for straighteningilat metal bands, wires, and rods, illustrating the nature of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse sectional view, and Fig. 4. is a bottom view'of one of theguide-plates.

In my improved apparatus for straightening, the lat metal bands, wires,or rods are passed forward through suitable guides or supports whichbear against the metal at intervals along its edges, and whichy alsoconfine it flatwise sufficiently close to prevent any twisting action.Then, while it is thus confined and supported,it is subjected to aseries of sharp,quick blows, dealt upon its edges by asimultaneouslyoperating series of hammers operating in rapid successionfrom opposite directions, and regulated intheir force'of impactaccording to the degree of power required or best adapted for theparticular size of wire or class of material under treatment. Y

The best method now known to me for practically applying my invention touse n the operation of straightening ilat bands or wire is bya mechanismconsisting of a series of being arranged substantially as hereinafterillustrated and explained.

In the references, A denotes the table or bedplate, provided withlateral slots, in which operate the hammers or straighteners B,v andhaving arranged on its upper surface in longitudinal direction theguides or supporters C, which together form a course or runway for thewire D as, it passes from one end of the table to the other. The loweredge of the guide-blocks G are provided with recesses or grooves 0, ofproper form to fit over and confine thewire iatwise and to sustain it atintervals edgewise, the grooves'of the guideblock being made, asindicated in Fig. 4, with parallel ends at c c', while the central partof the groove c, opposite the striker B, is hollowed or rounded out, asat d, to permit the wire to give way or bend with the blows ofthestraighteners or hammersB. Thehammers B are in Vthe present instancemounted on reciprocating rods E, that work through guides on the underside of the bed-plate A, and are provided with suitable springs, F, forforcing them forward against the edges of the wire. The strikers andtheir rods are moved outward in opposition to the springs by the cams orwipers G on the shafts H, mounted in suitable bearings beneath the bedA, and which shafts may be geared together, as at I, and be operated bya crank or bya belt on the pulley J, or by any other suitable means, asconvenient. The cams G press outward the hammers B, and the springs Fsend them inward against the wire with a sharp, quick blow7 when the IOOend b of the striker falls from the cam. The outer ends of the rods Eare provided with nuts K, which strike upon elastic washers L, arrangedat the sides of the bed, and which serve to stop or cushion the blows ofthe strikers against the wire D. By turning the nuts K on the rods E,the force of the blows can be varied and regulated to give the effectrequired. The wire D can be drawn through the guides by feed-rolls M,arranged at the position shown, or by any suitable feeding meehanism, asdesired.

In the present instance four hammers, B, and a similar number ofguideblocks, C, are shown; but any number desired may be employedwithout departure from the nature of my invention. The guides C serve asanvils for the hammers B, which latter are preferably arrangedalternating with and opposite to t-he guides, as shown, and theguide-blocks are firmly secured to the bed-plate by bolts.

The several hammers may be arranged to operate one at a time and tofollow their strokes in rapid succession, so as to equalize the powerrequired for driving the shafts H; and the number of strokes in relationto the speed at which the wire is fed forward can be so varied orproportioned that the entire length of the rod will be subjected to thehammer action along its edges, so that it comes out from the machinestraight and uniform.

If desired, the guides C may be made adjustable to receive bands orwires of different widths.

Vhat I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent,is-

l. In a machine for straightening flat metal bands or wire, a series ofautomatically-operated hammers or strikers adapted to deliversimultaneous blows upon the opposite edges of the band or wire atintervals ot' its length as it is fed forward through the machine.

2. rIhe combination of a series of hammers adapted to deliver blows uponthe opposite edges of the band or wire simultaneously at intervals ofits length, and mechanism for operating the same, and a series of guidesadapted to sustain the wire laterally at either side of the hammers,while permitting its bending action in front of said hammers.

3. The combination of a series of hammers adapted to deliver blows uponthe wire or band, and simultaneously acting at intervals of its length,the mechanism for operating the same, and a series of guides adapted tosupport the wire laterally at either side of said hammers, and toconfine the wire flatwise and against twisting action. A

4. The combination of a series of hammers or strikers alternatelylocated at opposite sides of the feed-face, and adapted to deliver blowsupon the edge of the band or wire at intervals of its length, andmechanism for operating the same, a series of guides to sustain andconfine the wire or band, and adjusting devices for regulating the forceof the hammerstrokes.

5. The combination, with the wire-confining guides, of a series ofhammers or strikers operated by springs and cams, for delivering blowsupon the wire or band, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of thehammers or strikers mounted on reciprocatingrods guided and supported on the bed-plate, the actuatingspringsarranged on said rods for forcing said hammers inward against the wire,and the revolving shafts provided with cams for moving said hammersoutward and compressing said springs, as set forth.

7. The elastic stop-cushions L and the adjusting-nuts K, in combinationwith the rods A, in the manner shown, for arresting and regulating theforce of the hammer-strokes- 8. In a machine for straightening flatmetal bands or wires, the combination, with the supporting-bed A andmechanism for continuously feeding forward the band or wire, of guidesC, that confine the wire ilatwise upon said bed and support it laterallyat intervals of its length, and a. striker mechanism for impartinglaterally-straightening force at positions intermediate to thebearing-points of the edgesupporting guides, said parts being arrangedand operating as set forth.

9. rl`he .guide-plate C, provided with the guiding groove or recess c,having parallel bearing ends c c, and hollowed at the center, as at d,in combination with the bed A and hammers B, for the purpose set forth.

Vitness my hand this 25th day of May, A. D. 1883.

EDVIN II. HILL.

"itnessesz GHns. I-I. BURLEIGH, AUSTIN XV. n'rnizws.

E, the hammers B, the springs F, and table- IOO

